today is my birthday!

06 Nov, 2025

I am 36 years old, which feels ancient in some ways and young in other ways 👵🏻

If I can impart any wisdom to younger people, it would be…

• Balance creation and consumption. It’s tempting as a creative person to value creating original work over consuming media, but we do not make art in a vacuum and a large part of creating comes from understanding what you like and dislike in other work (in fact, I’d argue that it’s absolutely necessary).

• Beware the sunk cost fallacy, especially when it concerns relationships. If you’re close to people whom you do not respect or want to become, consider cutting them off (when it makes sense to, when it’s safe to do so). A good partner/friend should energize you, not exhaust you. Of course there will be situations when someone is having a hard time and that in itself is exhausting; I am referring more to their treatment of you and the concept of reciprocity. Just because you’ve known someone for a long time doesn’t mean you need to keep them in your life.¹

• Kindness is never wasted. If you feel resentful about being nice or vulnerable to someone who used you, acknowledge that you are not a mind reader and being kind is not a crime. If you’re a decent person, you will feel more regret over being cruel to other people. It’s not worth the pain and humiliation that follows.

• We are almost always working with limited information. Further to the previous point, remember that there is a possibility you could be wrong. When you are kind, it is easier to admit that you are in the wrong.

• Stay curious. Curiosity will naturally lead you to most of the aforementioned behaviors without conscious thought.

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